Fourth Sense Samayal: April 2009

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

AWARD :)

This cute award was passed to me by Pavithra Elangovan. Thank you Anni for passing me this award. I am extremely excited to receive this award. Its a lovely way of encouragement that you have shown to me. :) Thanks a lot.

Now for the rules:

1) Add the logo of the award to your blog.
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you.
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs (Only if you like).
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog.
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blog.

I am passing this to few ppl who I follow the most and enjoy reading.

1) Vedha - She is one of my sweetest juniors who writes well abt her day to day experiences etc. I like her style of writing and content. It might not be so relevant to all who read hers.. But its interesting for ppl who know her. I want to give this award to her.

2) Chinmayi - Of course she is the singer, entrepreneur who I am talking abt. She does not know me. But I follow her blog regularly. I love the way she handles her blog. Nice writing and she cares to reply to all who contact her. Tats a gr8 thing to be done by a busy media person. I think she really deserves it.

3) Alvia - She is a super cool person I know and she writes so dramatically. I really like that. Tats the best of hers.. I wish she writes regularly..

4)Sandhya - one other junior of mine who writes loads.. Interesting one too.. :)

I am entering this post once again to thank few more people who have passed this award to me. Thanks to Supraja, Vedha and Sandhya for showing your affection over me by passing it. I am so glad and happy to know that you all like my blog. :) This note encourages me so much to make it interesting and useful to all the readers. Thanks again. :)

LITTLE THINGS CAN MAKE GREAT IMPACT :)

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Raisin Cake :)

Ingredients:

Raisins - 50 gm
All purpose flour (Maida) - 100 gm
Sodiumbarbonate (cooking soda) - 1 pinch
Baking powder - 1/2 tsp
Egg - 2
Sugar 50 gm
Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
Butter - to grease

Method:

Sift flour well along with baking powder and cooking soda. Beat egg whites in a bowl until soft peaks are formed. Now add powdered sugar and continue beating. At this point mix yolks and beat well. Add flour little by little and stir quickly. To this add raisins and mix well. Now pour the mixture into a well greased dish and microwave at 100% power for 5 min. Cool the cake before cutting into slices. Raisin cake is ready to eat :)

Wish anyone for their birthday's with a quick raisin cake :) Happy Baking :)

Written by: Nithya
post your queries to fourthsensesamayal@gmail.com

Monday, April 27, 2009

Melon Scotch :)

Ha ha expecting something fishy in my kitchen???!!!!! Should be taking wild guesses of what scotch could be right???? Okay with no more delays go on reading the mocktail recipe...

Ingredients:

Water melon - for your thirst
Butter Scotch Ice Cream - 1 scoop per serving
Sugar - to taste
Ice - as chill as you can sustain :)

Method:

Blend melon, butter scotch, sugar and ice well and add a surprise scoop of scotch... I mean butter scotch on top also and serve as cold as possible to quench the hot summer. :)

This mocktail would surely be favorite of all. :) happy drinking :)

Written by: Nithya
post your queries to fourthsensesamayal@gmail.com

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Chayote or Miriton(Chow Chow) Poricha Kolambu

Ingredients:

Chow Chow -1
Thoor dhall - 3 tbsp
Garlic - 10 pods
Coconut(scrapped) - 2 tbsp
Cashew nuts - 5
Rice flour - 2 tsp
Red chillies - 2
Urad dhall - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Asafoetida - a pinch
Salt - to taste

Method:

Grind coconut, cashew nuts and rice flour smoothly and keep it aside. Now cook thoor dhall and chow chow in the pressure pan. Add the ground mixture, salt and turmeric powder to it. Now season with urad dhall and red chillies. Finally add enough water and let it boil for a while. Keep stirring when it boils. Poricha kolambu is ready. :)

This is a super cool combi with hot steamed rice and mango pickle. Happy cooking :)

Written by: Nithya
post your queries to fourthsensesamayal@gmail.com

Guest Samayal - Mango Rasam

Ingredients:

Mangoes (Chakara kutty) - 8
Thoor Dhall - 4 tbsp
Chilly powder - 1.5 tsp
Turmeric powder - pinch
Tamarind - Small lemon sized
Jaggery - for taste
Asafoetida(perungayam) - pinch
Salt - to taste
Curry leaves
Coriander leaves

Method:

Make slits in mangoes and let it boil in water for a while. Cook thoor dhall and add a pinch of turmeric powder, tamarind paste, jaggery, asafoetida, chilly powder, salt and curry leaves to it. Now add the mangoes along with the water to the mixture. Allow it to boil for a while Now season it with mustard and garnish with coriander leaves. Mango rasam is ready to eat :)

These types of mangoes have a lot of fiber content in it. Once the mangoes get soaked well, it would give a lovely sweet and hot taste that no one can resist upon. :)

Serve it hot with steamed rice and chips. :) happy eating.

Written by: Bavatharani Rajasekaran

From 4thsensesamayal: Thank you Mrs.Bavatharani Rajasekaran, for taking interest and sending in your recipe to our blog. We are happy to feature it as the guest samayal this week. :) Keep cooking and keep on sending.

Garlic Greens

Do you want calcium, iron and vitamin B added to your diet!!! The one stop solution for your dietary needs is here.

Ingredients:
Greens (Mulai keerai) - 1 bunch
Garlic - 20 pods
Red chillies - 2
Urad dhall - 1/2 tsp
Coconut - 1 tbsp
Salt - to taste

Method:

Take a pan and season urad dhall and red chillies. Now add garlic and fry for 2 min. Put in finely chopped greens and sprinkle some water on it. Now close the lid and cook for a while till the greens get cooked. Now add salt to it fry for a while. Finally add coconut scrappings to it. Garlic greens is ready to taste. :) Best suits with curd rice. Healthy eating :)

Written by: Nithya
post your queries to fourthsensesamayal@gmail.com

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Fire on Ice

Fire on Ice!!!! yeah. It really means the name. Its a very simple recipe which really works well as a welcome drink or appetizer. Lets rush up to break the surprise!!! :)

Ingredients:

7 up or Sprite - 2 l
Mint (pudina) Leaves - 30 leaves
Green chillies - 3
Ice (crushed) - to make it as cold as u like :)

Method:

Take a tall glass of 7 up and add crushed ice to it. Now chop chillies and pudina leaves very finely and add it to the drink. Mix it well. Fire on ice is ready :)

Serve it strictly cold and with a straw. The hint of mint and hot chillies make it really exciting. :) Try it out and happy drinking :)

Written by: Nithya
post your queries to fourthsensesamayal@gmail.com

Friday, April 24, 2009

index

[+/-]

Main Course

Steamed Rice Dumplings

Tri Color Idly

Corn Meal Dosa

Black Gram Dosa/ Azhagar Kovil dosa

Drumstick Greens/murunga keerai Dosa

Drumstick Greens Adai

Steamed Rice flour Chapathi

Siyaali

Sago Upma

Wheat Rava Briyani

Pittu

Rich Porridge

Rice Porridge / Kanjivallam

Pearl Millet/Kambu Koozh

Side Dishes

Chutney Mela

Brinjal Kotsu

Mixed Vegetable Kurma

Fresh Field Beans Side dish

Kadappa

Raw Mango Dhall

Ping Me!!

Badam Kheer

Badam Kheer is a rich delicacy that can make any occasion a special one with its presence. Its yummy and I have heard that badam makes our skin beautiful. So girls out there do make a note :)

Ingredients:

Badam - 15
Milk - 2 cups
Sugar - 1/2 cup
Food color - a pinch

Method:

Soak badam in hot water for ten min. Now peal the outer brown skin off and grind the badam finely(extremely fine) adding few drops of water to it and keep it aside. Now boil the milk along with sugar in a sim flame for fifteen min so that the milk becomes slightly thick. Finally add the ground badam paste to the milk and mix well and let it boil for another five min. Once done add the food color to it and blend well. Badam kheer is done :) Decorate it with some badam scrappings and saffron if available.

You can serve it either hot or cold. Badam kheer is yummy either ways. This quantity will suffice 4 such glasses. Happy drinking :)

Written by: Nithya
post your queries to fourthsensesamayal@gmail.com

Paavakka (Bitter Guard) Fry

Bitter guard is not always bitter. Why don't you try this one to prove it :)

Ingredients:

Bitter Guard - 3 large
Oil - to fry
Roasted gram (pottu kadalai) - 2 tbsp
Red chillies - 2
Garlic - 4 pods
Salt - to taste

Method:

Grind red chillies, roasted gram, garlic and salt finely together and keep it aside. Now dice bitter guard into very small pieces and shallow fry it in oil. Once it turns brown and crisp, take it out and dry it using a tissue. Now mix the ground powder and the fried bitter guard together. Done with paavakka fry. Its a very simple dish yet tasty.

This fry goes well with curd rice. Frying removes the bitter taste in it, so apdiye sapdalam :) kids will love it. Happy eating :)

Written by: Nithya
post your queries to fourthsensesamayal@gmail.com

Milagu(Pepper) Rasam

Hmmmm you should be wondering why rasam in coffee mug????? WHY NOT!!!! you know! pepper rasam is an awesome appetizer. You can have it as a drink, soup or served with rice. Lets see how to make this multipurpose rasam ;)

Ingredients:

Pepper - 1 tbsp
Jeera - 1/2 tbsp
Coriander seeds - 3 tbsp
Red chillies - 2
Garlic - 10 pods
Tamarind - Small lemon sized ball
Jaggery - for taste
Asafoetida(perungayam) - pinch
Salt - to taste

Method:

Grind pepper, jeera, coriander seeds, red chillies and garlic finely. Now transfer the powdered masala to vessel and add tamarind paste, jaggery, asafoetida and salt along with enough water and let it boil for a while in low flame. Finally season it with mustard. Gharam pepper all purpose rasam is ready to serve. :)

Serve it as a soup or with steamed rice and chips. :) This quantity will suffice 4 ppl. Happy eating :)

Written by: Nithya
post your queries to fourthsensesamayal@gmail.com

Saturday, April 18, 2009

My Samayal - A Recap! :)

Yennai Kathirikka (Brinjal)

Yennai karthirika is one of the most famous south Indian lunch delicacy. The freshly ground masala added to it gives a lovely aroma and spiciness. Seriously yummy. :)

Ingredients:

Small sized Brinjals - 1/2 Kg
Small Onions - 1/2 Kg
Tamarind - lemon sized ball
Channa Dhall(kadala paruppu) - 1 tbsp
Urad Dhall(Ulutham paruppu) - 1 tbsp
Coriander seeds(Dhaniya) - 1 tbsp
Jeera - 1 tsp
Pepper - 1/2 tsp
Fenugreek(Vendhayam) - 1/2 tsp
Red chillies - 8 nos
Coconut(scrapped) - 1 tbsp
Salt - For taste
Jaggery - For taste
Asafortida - Pinch
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Method:

Take one spoon of oil in a pan and fry urad dhall, Channa dhall, Coriander seeds, Jeera, pepper, fenugreek and red chillies till it changes to golden brown. Now after it cools down powder it coarsely adding scrapped coconut. keep this aside.

Chop onions finely. Split brinjals into four leaving the top portion uncut(the pic will give you a hint). Now fry these two in a pan for a while till it turns golden brown.

Now take a vessel and add the fried vegitables, Ground powder, tamarind paste, jaggery, turmeric powder, asafortida and salt. Now pour in enough water to bring it to sambar consistancy and boil it till its done. Now season it gingily oil(nallanai) and mustard seeds. Finally Garnish it with curry leaves and coriander leaves.

Gama Gama yennai kathirika is ready to eat :) Serve it with hot steamed rice and chips. :) Happy eating. :)

Written by: Nithya
post your queries to fourthsensesamayal@gmail.com

Thursday, April 16, 2009

AWARD :)

This cute award was passed to me by Pavithra Elangovan. Thank you Anni for passing me this award. I am extremely excited to receive this award. Its a lovely way of encouragement that you have shown to me. :) Thanks a lot.

Now for the rules:

1) Add the logo of the award to your blog.
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you.
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs (Only if you like).
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog.
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blog.

I am passing this to few ppl who I follow the most and enjoy reading.

1) Vedha - She is one of my sweetest juniors who writes well abt her day to day experiences etc. I like her style of writing and content. It might not be so relevant to all who read hers.. But its interesting for ppl who know her. I want to give this award to her.

2) Chinmayi - Of course she is the singer entrepreneur who I am talking abt. She does not know me. But I follow her blog regularly. I love the way she handles her blog. Nice writing and she cares to reply to all who contact her. Tats a gr8 thing to be done by a busy media person.

3) Alvia - She is a super cool person I know and she writes so dramatically. I really like that. Tats the best of hers.. I wish she writes regularly..

4)Sandhya - one other junior of mine who writes loads.. Interesting one too.. :)

Guest Samayal - Cornflour Halwa

This is an easy sweet that can be prepared without prior planning. It tastes so yummy too.

Ingredients:

Cornflour - 1 1/2 cup
Milk - 1 1/2 cup
Water - 1 1/2 cup
Sugar - 1 1/4 cup
Ghee - 4 tbsp
Cashew - 1/4 cup broken to small pieces

Method:

Heat 1/2 tbsp of ghee in the frying pan, add broken cashews and fry till golden brown and remove and keep it aside. Now add milk, water and sugar to cornflour and mix every thing well.
Pour this cornflour mixture in the frying pan and stir continuously until it get thickens and color changes from pure white to transparent. Then add remaining ghee and cashew so that all blends well. Transfer them to greased plate immediately and once cooled can cut to desired shapes. It is ready to serve and even tastes good if chilled also.

Written by: Pavithra Elangovan

From 4thsensesamayal: Thank you Mrs.Pavithra Elangovan, for taking interest and sending in your recipe to our blog. We are happy to feature it as the guest samayal this week. :) Keep cooking and keep on sending.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

More (Butter milk) Rasam

Guess what!!!!!! you dont need a stove to make this dish. Gas micham you see.. :)

Ingredients:

Coconut - 5 tbsp
Roasted gram (pottu kadalai) - 1 tbsp
Red chillies - 5
Jeera - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Asafoetida- pinch
Garlic - 3 pods
Butter milk - 3 cups
Salt - to taste
Curry leaves

Method:

Grind coconut, roasted gram, red chillies, jeera, turmeric powder, asafoetida and garlic together finely. Now add this ground contents to the butter milk along with salt and mix well. Finally season it with mustard and jeera and garnish with curry leaves. You dont have to boil it. This rasam is meant to be cold. More rasam is ready.

People who love curd will like this rasam very much. :) Serve this with hot steamed rice and plain onions. They make a lovely combination.

This quantity will suffice a nuclear family of 4 :) Happy eating :)

Written by: Nithya
post your queries to fourthsensesamayal@gmail.com

Carrot Chapathi

Ingredients:

Carrot - 2
Wheat flour - 2 cups
Garam masala - 2 tsp
Salt - for taste
Food color (orange) - a pinch

Method:

Grate the carrot and keep it aside. Now take the wheat flour in a bowl and add garam masala, salt, food color and the grated carrot together and mix it dry. This will cause the color and salt to blend equally all over. Now add water little by little and make the chapathi dough. Make chapathi's out of it. Carrot chapathi is ready.

The orange food colour added to it will give a lovely look to the chapathi. This will attract the kids a lot. Make variation in all ways possible. Happy and healthy cooking. :)

Serve it hot with subji. :)

Written by: Nithya
post your queries to fourthsensesamayal@gmail.com

Plantain(Vazhakai) Podimas curry

Ingredients:

Plantain - 1
Onion - 1
Coconut (grated) - 1 tblsp
Curry leaves
Coriander leaves
Green chilly - 2
Urad Dhall - 1/2 tsp
Channa Dhall - 1/2 tsp
Mustard - 1/2 tsp

Method:

Cut the plantain into two pieces without removing the skin. Boil them in water for exactly 5 min. The skin would turn black by then. Now remove the skin and grate it using the scrapper and keep it aside.

Heat a spoon of oil in the kadai, add mustard seeds, when it sputters, add curry leaves, urad dhall, channa dhal, chopped onions, diced chillies and fry till the onion turns golden brown. Once done reduce the flame and add the grated plantain, salt and lemon juice mixing it gently. Finally swith off the flame and garnish with fresh grated coconut and coriander leaves. Podimas is ready.. :)

Serve it with curd rice. Yummy yummy will be the reaction from all. :)

This podimas curry can be made using potatoes and banana stem too.

This quantity will suffice 2 hungry tummies. :)

Written by: Nithya
post your queries to fourthsensesamayal@gmail.com

Sunday, April 5, 2009

French Fries

Ingredients:

Potato - 4
Rice flour - 1 tsp
Corn flour - 1 tsp
Oil - to fry
Salt - to taste

Method:

Hey I can hear you saying 'Idhellam too much ah illa?' but for the matter of fact there is a simple yet effective method of making french fries crispy and tasty just like the one you get in sweet chariot or such posh places. And I am putting this one down to let you know the little secret. :)

Okay it goes like this. Dice potatoes into long pieces (tats how french fries are meant to be.. so no creativity here). Now soak them in a bowl of ice cold water for about ten min. This will make the potatoes stiff and strong. Now take them out and wipe them with a clean cloth making it dry. Take a small plate and put the corn flour and rice flour in it and add few drops of water and make it into a paste consistency. Now you have to apply this paste very lightly on the potatoes(I really mean VERY LIGHTLY. We are not making bajji here. so be careful with this coating). Once done fry it in oil bringing it to light golden color. Add salt to it now. Your french fries are done. I am sure you will find it crispy and extra yummy now. :)

Happy eating french fries with tomato ketchup! :)

Written by: Nithya
post your queries to fourthsensesamayal@gmail.com

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Guest Samayal - Square Egg

Now what do I call this….Square Egg!!

Ok…lets see how to cook this….

Ingredients:

Egg - 1

Onion - 1

Curry leaves

Chilly powder - to taste

Salt - to taste

Method:

I am always fascinated by the way these English people in the ‘travel and living’ channel cook so intricately. as if they paint a monalisa. so good to watch them create a work of art. So that’s how even I try to look at my own cooking hehehe. I know its way too much..but still, I have tried to make this look and taste as good as possible.edho enaala mudinjadhu. :)

Finely chopped onions…it should be fine…that is when it tastes good.

Now put some oil, amount which u might know, on a pan. Non-stick I would suggest so that u use less oil and you can take the egg ‘square’ easily….apa thaan vecha paerkku mariyaadha…. ;)

And sauté the onion till it’s a little gold….not brown but little gold.

Put a ‘little’ salt and chilli powder and sauté…Put finely chopped coriander and curry leaves and sauté…. At the end of all this frying the onion should still be gold…not brown…so act accordingly ;)

ok…done frying?…sprinkle a pinch of ajino-moto on the top of the onions….

And arrange the fried lot, square and flat on the frying pan….

Break open the egg and put it on the top of the onions….make sure it doesn’t run off the square shape…count to ten and turn the egg over…now the onions you would see are a little brown, which is absolutely ok….so when u feel the egg on the bottom side (previously top ;) ) is cooked….take it off the pan and serve with curd rice…or rasam saadamm….

Or chummavae you can eat it…. :)

Written by: Karthik

From 4thsensesamayal: Thank you Mr.Karthik, for taking interest and sending in your recipe to our blog. We are happy to feature it as the guest samayal this week. :) Keep cooking and keep on sending.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Awards

I would like to thank all my blogger buddies who have encouraged me with such lovely awards. I am really glad and happy for it. I will always try to do my best to justify your sweet gestures :)